PHOTOS: Chicagoans celebrate Mexican Independence Day

By Fox 32 Digital Staff

Published September 14, 2025 9:48am CDT

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Little Village holds Mexican Independence Day Parade

Despite ice's ramped-up presence in the city, the 54th Mexican Independence Day parade in Little Village stepped off as scheduled today.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: People celebrate Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The city and surrounding area has been holding several Independence Day celebration over the past week, while many oth …

CHICAGO - People gathered over the weekend to celebrate Mexican Independence Day throughout Chicago as the city has experienced stepped-up immigration enforcement and protests.

People gathered for the Mexican Independence Day parade in Little Village on Sunday.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 14: Spectators watch as the 54th Annual Mexican Independence Day Parade works its way along 26th Street in the Little Village neighborhood on September 14, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Several Independence Day celebrations in Chicago and surrounding communities have been cancelled or postponed over the past week due to fears surrounding the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz, which has amped up arrests of undocumented immigrants in the area. Mexico's Independence Day is September 16th (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 14: People participate in the 54th annual Mexican Independence Day Parade as it makes its way along 26th Street in the Little Village neighborhood on September 14, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Several Independence Day celebrations in Chicago and surrounding communities have been cancelled or postponed over the past week due to fears surrounding the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz, which has amped up arrests of undocumented immigrants in the area. Mexico's Independence Day is September 16th (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A Mexican flag in the pocket of a Chicago Fire Department (CFD) firefigher during the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, US, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. Little Village held a Mexican Independence Day parade on Sunday, opting to go ahead with plans even after a large downtown festival for the holiday was postponed due to concerns about ICE. Photographer: Talia Sprague/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Attendees carry a Mexican flag during the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, US, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. Little Village held a Mexican Independence Day parade on Sunday, opting to go ahead with plans even after a large downtown festival for the holiday was postponed due to concerns about ICE. Photographer: Talia Sprague/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Indigenous dancers perform during the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, US, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. Little Village held a Mexican Independence Day parade on Sunday, opting to go ahead with plans even after a large downtown festival for the holiday was postponed due to concerns about ICE. Photographer: Talia Sprague/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Dancers perform during the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, US, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. Little Village held a Mexican Independence Day parade on Sunday, opting to go ahead with plans even after a large downtown festival for the holiday was postponed due to concerns about ICE. Photographer: Talia Sprague/Bloomberg via Getty Images

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 14: Spectators watch as the 54th Annual Mexican Independence Day Parade works its way along 26th Street in the Little Village neighborhood on September 14, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Several Independence Day celebrations in Chicago and surrounding communities have been cancelled or postponed over the past week due to fears surrounding the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz which has amped up arrests of undocumented immigrants in the area. Mexico's Independence day is September 16th, (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Several people were seen in the city's downtown area on Saturday night holding up Mexican flags. There was an elevated police presence in the downtown area to ensure traffic would flow smoothly.

In recent years, large groups of cars riding through the Loop to celebrate the occasion would snarl traffic.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: People celebrate Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The city and surrounding area has been holding several Independence Day celebration over the past week, while many oth …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: People celebrate Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The city and surrounding area has been holding several Independence Day celebration over the past week, while many oth …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: People celebrate Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The city and surrounding area has been holding several Independence Day celebration over the past week, while many oth …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: People celebrate Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The city and surrounding area has been holding several Independence Day celebration over the past week, while many oth …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over cars for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for displa …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Police pull over a driver for displaying a Mexican flag on his vehicle as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers for di …

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: A driver removes a flag from his car after receiving a citation from police as he celebrates Mexican Independence Day in the Loop on September 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Police were writing citations to drivers f …

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